The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-08-19
The INDEPENDENT FARMER.

" @A1 S0IN VA 10 ID vi AA1CA
by many because it enables those on
gagged in it to be TO q great extent inde-
pendent. The farmer certainly can
direct his own affairs, as there is no
association or union to tell him when
he shall work or when he shall remain
idle. He is free to exercise his own
Judgment in relation to how ne man
ages bis place, what he shall raise, and
how he shall dispose of it. He is at
liberty to work eight or eighteen hours
each day. His not liable to be assess
ed for the support of persons engaged
in strikes for shorter hours or higher
wages. He is never called upon to en-
gage in parades or to assist in making
demonstrations. He can buy labor in
the cheapest market, and is not obliged
to confer with any person except those
he employs about tho time or method
Of payment. He can have his work
performed by hand or by the use of ma.
chimes He is lord Of his own acres.
be they few or many. He is not likely
to be injured by strikes of the class Of
men whom he employs in doing work
in this respect he "a in a more inde-
pendent position than manufacturers
contractors, and railway managers.
A farmer may be measurably inde-
pendent in the matter of obtaining sup
plies. He may, if he has the means
and is given sufficient time, raise near
" everything he requires for supplying
his table. He can arrange for having
beef, pork. mutton and a variety Of
fowls, all Of his own raising. He
should never go away from his farm 10
obtain eggs, milk, butter, and cheese.
He should have an abundance and Il
great variety of vegetables and small
fruits in their season. He should have
a pond where he can raise carp and
other fish for his table. With a good
cellar he will find no difficulty in keep
ing large fruits, potatoes, garden vege-
tables, and many other articles of food
over the winter. If he has an ice
house. he can keep fresh meat, fowls,
fish, perishable fruits and cooked food
in il for several days. BY keeping
bees a substitute for strip can be OBJ
tanned without cost. With a few acres
in forest trees a-supply Of fuel viii be
provided. But little skill is required
to dry, can, and preserve fruits. SO that
the table may be supplied with them
from the close OF one bearing season
to the commencement of another.
A farmer who has arranged for pro-
ducing nearly everything for supplying
his table. who has on his place wood
for fuel and timber for fence.posts,
comes about as near being independent
as a man can be. He has little to pay
and as q consequence does not need
have very much to sell. A horse that
a be raised on the place viii sell for
enough to buy a good carriage and
harness. The few grocery bills can be
paid with eggs and butter. The ia.
crease Of stock beyond the number OF
animals that can be kept on the place
win sell for enough to pay taxes and
for clothing, furniture, and tools. a.
farmer who Is in condition TO do all
these things may not be very wealthy,
but he will be provided with all the
necessities for comfort. He will also
have many Of the things that are gem
orally classed among the Injuries. He
a have leisure and the means for en-
joying it. He will have no anxiety
about Keeping his house warm If there
is a scarcity Of coal and the roads are
drifted high with snow, with no way OF
getting to town to obtain groceries and
provisions, he will find that his table
is Spread = not only with nonrishina
food. bat with that which tempts and
delights the appetite.
Although it appears to be easy to be.
come an independent farmer, compar-
atively few who own and occupy farms
can be regarded as such. The farmer
who has a mortgage on his place ia
far from being independent. His earn
ings are pledged till such time as his
secured debt is paid in full. There Is a
cloud on his title, and another n oa
his hopes. He is constantly anxious in
relation to how he is to raise money to
meet his indebtedness. The farmer
whose name is attached to several
chattel mortgages, who has outstand-
ing notes, store debts. and miscellane-
ous obligations is dependent on the
mercy of his creditors. They will ex-
pect him to sell meat that he raises as
soon as it is in a condition to send to
market whether prices are high Of
low. The farmer who is obliged to
sell nearly all the products Of his place
in order to furnish fuel and provisions
Is almost as far from q state of inde-
pendence as the day laboreT in n large
city who is obliged to buy everything
he eats and burns. The farmer who
first seeks and finds a position Of inde-
pendence will obtain what wealth COM
bined with anxiety can not procure.
Chicago Times.